Lameness Evaluation How to Spot It First Aid for Common Conditions When to Call the Vet. Ocean State Equine Associates

Transcription

1 Lameness Evaluation How to Spot It First Aid for Common Conditions When to Call the Vet Ocean State Equine Associates

2 Lameness accounts for more losses in the equine industry than any other condition even colic! Sadly, many horses are asked to perform when they are in pain because owners fail to recognize lameness. Lameness

3 Lameness is defined as an alteration of the horse s gait. Lameness can manifest as a change in performance or a change in attitude. A prompt exam can save you time, money and frustration by diagnosing and treating the problem immediately. Lameness

4 Lameness can be caused by pain in the following: Neck Shoulders Legs Withers Back Feet Loin Hips Lameness

5 Examination Procedures Your veterinarian has a specific method of performing a lameness evaluation. A thorough history is very important. This should include any previous medical or lameness issues, work requirements, the horse s diet and any medications that the horse is on.

6 Examination Procedures The horse should be observed at rest. The vet looks at its conformation, balance, weight bearing and looks for any evidence of injury or stress.

7 Examination Procedures A thorough, handson exam should be performed. The veterinarian will palpate the horse, checking muscles, joints, bones and tendons for evidence of heat, pain or swelling.

8 Examination Procedures Hoof testers should be applied to the feet. This instrument allows the veterinarian to apply pressure to the sole and frog of the foot to check for undue sensitivity or pain.

9 Examination Procedures Evaluation of the horse in motion Watch the horse at the walk, trot and canter. Observe him from the front, back and both side views. Note any deviations in gait (such as winging or paddling), failure to land squarely on all four feet and the unnatural shifting of weight from one limb to another.

10 Examination Procedures Observe the horse on a circle in both directions on a lunge line, in a round pen or under saddle. Look for: Shortening of the stride Irregular foot placement Head bobbing Stiffness Weight shifting

11 Examination Procedures Joint flexion tests involve the veterinarian holding a limb in the flexed position and then trotting the horse off. Flexing the joints in this manner may reveal problems that are not otherwise readily apparent.

12 Diagnostic procedures are often necessary to isolate the specific location and cause of lameness. They include: Diagnostic nerve or joint blocks Radiographs Ultrasound Examination of blood, synovial fluid or tissue samples MRI & CT Nuclear Scanning Diagnostic Tests

13 Diagnostic Nerve Blocks These are the most important tools used to identify the location of lameness. The veterinarian temporarily deadens the sensation to the specific segments of the limb, one region or joint at a time, until the lameness disappears.

14 Radiographs Radiographs show damage or changes to bone.

15 Ultrasound (Sonography) This non-invasive procedure uses ultrasonic waves to image internal structures such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, joint capsules and even bone architecture.

16 Blood, Synovial (Joint) and Tissue These samples can be examined for infection or inflammation. They can aid in diagnosing an infected joint or infectious disease causing lameness such as Lyme Disease. Samples

17 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Images are created by large magnets that spin around a body part and give great detail of bone and soft tissue.

18 Nuclear Scintigraphy Radioisotopes are injected intravenously into the horse and are concentrated into the areas of injury. These areas are scanned with a gamma camera, and show up as areas of increased uptake.

19 AAEP Lameness Scale The scale ranges from zero to five, with zero being no perceptible lameness, and five being the most extreme. The grades are as follows: 0: Lameness not perceptible under any circumstances. 1: Lameness is difficult to observe and is not consistently apparent, regardless of circumstances (i.e. under saddle, circling, inclines, hard surfaces, etc).

20 AAEP Lameness Scale 2: Lameness is difficult to observe at a walk or when trotting in a straight line, but consistently apparent under certain circumstances (i.e. weight carrying, circling, inclines, hard surfaces, etc). 3: Lameness is consistently observable at a trot under all circumstances. 4: Lameness is obvious at the walk. 5. Lameness produces minimal weight bearing in motion and/or at rest a complete inability to move.

21 When to Call the Vet ALL lame horses should be seen by a veterinarian. If a lameness is present, it means that the horse is in pain. All sudden onset, non-weight bearing or partial weight-bearing (Grades 4 and 5) lamenesses should be considered an emergency.

22 Common Causes of Severe (Grades 4 or 5) Lameness Foot abscess Penetrating object (street nail) Close hot nail from farrier Cellulitis/lymphangitis Serious traumatic tendon or ligament injury Laminitis Joint, bursa or tendon sheath infection Traumatic wound over a joint Fracture!

23 Foot Abscess An accumulation of purulent exudate (pus) in the foot, most commonly under the sole. There is usually heat in the foot, a bounding digital pulse and the horse may point his toe.

24 Close Nail/Hot Nail

25 Cellulitis and Lymphangitis

26 Traumatic Tendon, Ligament or Muscle Injury

27 Joint, Tendon Sheath or Bursa Infection

28 Fractured Coffin Bone

29 First Aid Necessities for Lameness Emergencies Thermometer Ice/cold hose Betadine or Chlorhexidine Cotton wrap/quilt with Vet Wrap Soaking Basin with Epsom salts Diapers Duct Tape A trailer or quick assess to one Your veterinarian s phone number!

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